During COVID-19, this is the smartest thing you can do.

If you asked me about my ‘healthy lifestyle’ in January 2020- I would have laughed. I considered myself reasonably fit with a good amount of unhealthy habits. I exercised regularly, but my diet was pretty terrible. I had a fairly busy social life, which meant regular cocktails and sleep deprivation. My emotional wellbeing needed the most attention as I was prone to anxiety and panic attacks, but like most irresponsible adults- I avoided the issue.

If you ask any of my friends, they would be surprised to think that someone who seemed so put together had extreme anxiety. I only shared that with a few close friends. I knew how to keep it together in public but felt like a nutjob in my personal space. Fast forward seven months, and as we are in a pandemic, I am mentally calmer, and I also have better control of my thoughts and mood than I ever have in the past. If I had not changed my habits, anxiety would have taken over my life.

Last year I decided to stop taking my antidepressants because I was tired of being on them without feeling any different. I wanted to take a more holistic approach and thought I could be more active and eat better to make up for the medication. I had tried therapy on and off for years, and it never helped me. Being a psychology major in college who wanted to become a therapist, I also knew that if I…